Still out, Alshon Jeffery's status Saturday uclear

With Saturday’s dress rehearsal looming, Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery remained out Monday with a mild calf strain suffered Aug. 12.

“It’s better when you’re out there, regardless of what position or what person you’re talking about,” coach John Fox said after Monday’s practice at Halas Hall. “He’s day-to-day. When they clear him medically and we feel that’s the smartest thing to do, he’ll be out there.”

Jeffery hasn’t practiced since suffering the injury during a walk-through, and has missed the team’s first two preseason games.

Fox said he couldn’t speculate on his participation in Saturday’s preseason game against the Bengals until the Bears got closer to the date. The third preseason game is considered the last opportunity for starters to play.

“I worry about everything,” Fox said. “It comes with the territory. We prefer him out there and he’s doing everything he can to get out there. It’s nobody’s fault. It’s not his fault. It’s not our fault. It’s part of football.”

The loss of Jeffery and wideout Marquess Wilson, who is out with a hamstring injury, is a challenge for quarterback Jay Cutler, Fox said.

“We’re not the lone rangers,” Fox said. “You read around the league, people get injured. It’s part of football, so you deal with it. It gives other guys opportunities to get a chance to look at them.

“The passing game is the passing game, regardless of what people are there.”

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